I guess it makes sense to doubt that a hitter won't be able to make the same adjustment that clearly inferior hitters were able to make. If the Sox can't distinguish, to the tune of 68 million dollars, between a fully developed hitter who can or cannot hit MLB pitching, then we have serious problems. It's not like they speculatively signed a prospect like Viciedo.

Sorry, but I've seen enough baseball in my lifetime to know there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect or a sure thing. I'm being cautiously optimistic. If you want to throw your full faith into Abreu being one of, if not the best hitter on this team, that's great. I respect your decision. As for me, I'm not going to get overly excited about a player that I know very little about, and would rather see him face MLB pitching before jumping to any conclusions. And even if he is a bust, I will still applaud Hahn for taking the gamble.

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Sorry, but I've seen enough baseball in my lifetime to know there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect or a sure thing. I'm being cautiously optimistic. If you want to throw your full faith into Abreu being one of, if not the best hitter on this team, that's great. I respect your decision. As for me, I'm not going to get overly excited about a player that I know very little about, and would rather see him face MLB pitching before jumping to any conclusions. And even if he is a bust, I will still applaud Hahn for taking the gamble.

He's not a prospect, that's my whole point. Did you even read my comment. "It's not like the Sox speculatively signed a prospect like Viciedo." It's not like being a great hitter is the sole providence of major league baseball.

Given that you view Abreu as a prospect you would still applaud Hahn for gambing with a 6 year 68 million dollar deal? If Abreu is a prospect, Hahn should be canned immediately for the signing.

He's not a prospect, that's my whole point. Did you even read my comment. "It's not like the Sox speculatively signed a prospect like Viciedo."

I didn't say he was a prospect. Did you even read my comment? I said "Sorry, but I've seen enough baseball in my lifetime to know there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect or a sure thing. I'm being cautiously optimistic." I guess I didn't realize "prospect" and "sure thing" were the same. My bad.

I didn't say he was a prospect. Did you even read my comment? I said "Sorry, but I've seen enough baseball in my lifetime to know there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect or a sure thing. I'm being cautiously optimistic."

Yeah I read it. Usually when someone cites something, for example, can't miss prospect, I assume it is in relation to the discussion at hand. Maybe it was presumptuous.

I didn't say he was a prospect. Did you even read my comment? I said "Sorry, but I've seen enough baseball in my lifetime to know there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect or a sure thing. I'm being cautiously optimistic." I guess I didn't realize "prospect" and "sure thing" were the same. My bad.

That comment would be read by almost anyone as you referring to him as a prospect.

"Outside The Lines" story about Abreu and other defected cuban baseball players with commentary from Contreras is on right now. on espn news.

It was interesting. The one comment that caught my attention was the intro to an idea that Cuban players may be more intriguing due to PEDs.

Somewhat related and off topic, Jonah Keri did a really good piece for Grantland about Jose Fernandez and his struggle to defect. For some, it's a lot more of a difficult process than a lot of these guys get credit for, I'll see if I can find it.

Somewhat related and off topic, Jonah Keri did a really good piece for Grantland about Jose Fernandez and his struggle to defect. For some, it's a lot more of a difficult process than a lot of these guys get credit for, I'll see if I can find it.